Laurence Alder
- Feb 16, 2021
- 4 min read

Grey Plover | Pluvialis Squatarola

Hello to you all! Next up in this series of blog posts about the birds that have inspired the Winter Bird Collection is the Grey Plover: a wading bird. I have tried to select each bird from a different species within this project. We have already had a finch (Brambling), a thrush (Fieldfare) and now it's time for a lovely little wader.

This particular bird also meant that I could introduce some monochromatic realness to my artwork too, as this is something that is slightly out of my comfort zone.

The Winter Bird Collection takes inspiration from birds that call the United Kingdom their home for the winter. At the end of all blog posts there will be a sources section where you can do further reading and look at the sources of where I collected this information.

Don't forget 10% of the profits from the Winter Bird Collection get donated to RSPB. One of Britain's largest conservation charities.

A Grey Plover-view

Scientific Name: Pluvialis Squatarola

Average Size (Length): 27-30cm Average Wingspan: 71-83cm Average Lifespan: 10 Years+

Status: Amber List

Squatarola?

Yes, again, we are provided with an excellent Latin name to go with this beautiful bird. Pluvialis Squatarola sounds like we are all about to partake in a Crossfit challenge that no one wants to do. Do not fear! No squats are necessary!

Pluvialis relates to the latin for rain: pluvia, their cousins the Golden Plover are sometimes awarded the name 'The Rain Bird.' The birds are known to become a big agitated when rain is due and start to flock together. In addition to this, the Plover appears on our shores during the beginning October, when the weather tends to become much wetter.

Squatarola refers to the family of birds that this bird originates, called Charadriidae. This family of birds relates to Lapwings & Plovers of all varieties.

Distribution, Another Winter Visitor

This wading bird can appear in the U.K. from as early as July, spending the Autumn and Winter on our shores before leaving again in the Spring. You will often find them on muddy and sandy estuaries around our British Coastline, this provides them with plenty of food and company. Other waders such as Curlews & Redshanks.

If you are near any of the Ribble, Thames or Dee estuaries, you can usually spot them there! You will rarely find this coastal bird inland, so they won't be making an appearance in your backyard anytime soon.

It is very rare for the Grey Plover to stay during the Summer season, even the early visitors are not common. During this time they are usually breeding and foraging in other countries such as Northern Russia and other coastal islands in the Arctic.

THE BATHING COSTUME

Yes, that is me trying to think of a quirky way to say plumage, but what better phrase to call the patterns and colours of the Grey Plover!?

The feathers and colours of the bird can change throughout the seasons. During the Summer and the transition period into Autumn, you will often see that the Plover has a black belly; the Black Bellied Plover is what they are known as in the United States.

The gorgeous patterning lies on the top half of the grey plover, they have a patchy mottled pattern across their back in shades of charcoal, grey and white. These can sometimes have a yellowish tone, depending on how the light catches on their feathers.

I have tried to use their gorgeous patterning within my collage and woven work, with peeps of white feather peeking through the charcoal black tones. This created beautiful monochrome dots and dashes that really show off what the Grey Plover has to offer.

A Meloncholy Song

The Grey Plover has a long drawn out call, with a simple variant in its tone, weirdly, I think it sounds a little bit sad, a little sound of desperation. You can listen to the call of the Grey Plover here.

STOP, EAT, REPEAT

The Grey Plover nests in open tundra or adjacent to other rocky shores or shallow lagoons. Their little nest in short grasses is known as a scrape. Unfortunately this means that it is prone to predators as there is not of lot of cover from vegetation or rocks. Usually they breed once in their life time when they are about 2-3 years of age, raising 3-4 eggs.

Typically they feed on little crustaceans and invertebrates found within the sands of an estuary in typical plover fashion. Start, stop, quick start, catch, repeat. This behaviour is classic in many wading birds, running and suddenly stopping to feed. When breeding on their summer vacations they feed on insects, much like many other birds.

DONATE

Grey Plover are a breed that is protected by The Wildlife & Countryside Act of 1981 and is on the Amber list for concern. Charities are working with fisherman, politicians and people that live on the coast to raise awareness of our wading inhabitants.

With each sale made within the Winter Bird Collection 10% of profits are donated to the RSPB. They are one of the largest conservation charities within the UK. To find out more about their work or to donate to the charity please visit their website.